Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

An Easygoing Family Dog

Affectionate, playful, sweet

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are eager to please, gentle, and intelligent, small dogs. These lap dogs are extremely friendly toward strangers, children, and other pets as long as they are socialized at an early age. Cavaliers don’t do well in the heat and are best kept as indoor dogs with plenty of attention from their family. They make great companions for singles, families, senior citizens, and those who enjoy the outdoors. These easily adapted dogs are happy running outside or lounging around, which ever best suits their owners’ lifestyle. They require a fair amount of exercise daily, and enjoy exploring, sniffing, and chasing.

Understanding their unique needs will help keep them healthy and create a strong bond between the two of you. Explore this page to learn more about the breed’s history, health concerns, characteristics, and care needs.

Breed Details

Height:12-13 in.Weight:13-18 lbLifespan:9-14 years

Size

2

1=small 5=large

Grooming requirements

3

1 = little grooming - 5 = much grooming

Energy level

3

1 = low energy - 5 = high energy

Ease of training

4

1 = difficult - 5 = easy

Affection toward owners

5

1 = independent - 5 = very affectionate

Friendliness toward strangers

Routine Care: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a strong chase instinct, so they need to be leash walked and a fenced yard is a must. They can be sensitive to temperature extremes; avoid any prolonged exposure and be very alert to the signs of heat stress. They are well suited to apartment life as long as they are given daily walks and frequent play sessions.

Grooming: Brush their coat as needed, at least weekly to prevent mats.

Dental: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels often have serious problems with their teeth, so you’ll need to brush them at least three times a week!

Ear Care: Clean their ears weekly, even as a puppy. Make sure to keep their floppy ears dry. Don’t worry—your veterinarian can show you how!

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a lover of comfort and is devoted to their family. With early socialization and consistent leadership, they are a patient and happy addition to any family.

Positive Traits:

Affectionate, easygoing, and lovable

Energetic and playful

Good with children and other pets

Eager to please and responsive to training

Lively, with a friendly personality

Intelligent and easy to train

Negative Traits:

Needs frequent attention from their family

Exhibits signs of separation anxiety if left alone too much

Sees cats and small animals as prey unless trained otherwise

Can be difficult to housetrain

An indoor dog that doesn’t do well in the heat

Prone to quite a few health problems

Whether you are considering adding a new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to your family or you already have one as a companion, it is important for you to know about the genetically linked diseases known to occur more often in this breed. Of course not every Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will have these problems, but research shows your pal is more at risk than other breeds.

By exploring the health concerns specific to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel you will become a knowledgeable and confident pet parent. Be sure to speak with your veterinarian about breed risks every time you visit and educate yourself on the most important signs to watch for at home. They are counting on you to be their health expert.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel originated in England as a companion pet. The Cavalier was separated from the King Charles Spaniel, or English Toy Spaniel, in the early 1900’s in an effort to return to an older variant with a longer muzzle. The Cavaliers are an active breed that enjoys chasing butterflies in the yard and is even suitable for obedience trials. When not on the move, the Cavalier’s favorite place is their owner's lap. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel thrives in a home where someone is home most of the time; they require close human contact and often become destructive when left alone more than a couple of hours. The Cavalier is an intelligent and fearless companion, but is not known to be a good watchdog even though they can alarm bark because they are often overly social with strangers. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a generally healthy breed with an average lifespan of 9-14 years.

Consult with a veterinarian if your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel shows signs of the following:

Coughing, especially at night or upon rising after sleeping, rapid breathing at rest

Care

Routine Care: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a strong chase instinct, so they need to be leash walked and a fenced yard is a must. They can be sensitive to temperature extremes; avoid any prolonged exposure and be very alert to the signs of heat stress. They are well suited to apartment life as long as they are given daily walks and frequent play sessions.

Grooming: Brush their coat as needed, at least weekly to prevent mats.

Dental: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels often have serious problems with their teeth, so you’ll need to brush them at least three times a week!

Ear Care: Clean their ears weekly, even as a puppy. Make sure to keep their floppy ears dry. Don’t worry—your veterinarian can show you how!

Characteristics

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a lover of comfort and is devoted to their family. With early socialization and consistent leadership, they are a patient and happy addition to any family.

Positive Traits:

Affectionate, easygoing, and lovable

Energetic and playful

Good with children and other pets

Eager to please and responsive to training

Lively, with a friendly personality

Intelligent and easy to train

Negative Traits:

Needs frequent attention from their family

Exhibits signs of separation anxiety if left alone too much

Sees cats and small animals as prey unless trained otherwise

Can be difficult to housetrain

An indoor dog that doesn’t do well in the heat

Prone to quite a few health problems

Health Concerns

Whether you are considering adding a new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to your family or you already have one as a companion, it is important for you to know about the genetically linked diseases known to occur more often in this breed. Of course not every Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will have these problems, but research shows your pal is more at risk than other breeds.

By exploring the health concerns specific to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel you will become a knowledgeable and confident pet parent. Be sure to speak with your veterinarian about breed risks every time you visit and educate yourself on the most important signs to watch for at home. They are counting on you to be their health expert.

History

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel originated in England as a companion pet. The Cavalier was separated from the King Charles Spaniel, or English Toy Spaniel, in the early 1900’s in an effort to return to an older variant with a longer muzzle. The Cavaliers are an active breed that enjoys chasing butterflies in the yard and is even suitable for obedience trials. When not on the move, the Cavalier’s favorite place is their owner's lap. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel thrives in a home where someone is home most of the time; they require close human contact and often become destructive when left alone more than a couple of hours. The Cavalier is an intelligent and fearless companion, but is not known to be a good watchdog even though they can alarm bark because they are often overly social with strangers. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a generally healthy breed with an average lifespan of 9-14 years.

Watch Out For

Consult with a veterinarian if your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel shows signs of the following:

Coughing, especially at night or upon rising after sleeping, rapid breathing at rest

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